Welcome to

Blankpage Editing

Transforming your writing from draft to polished work can be a daunting task, whether you are working on an academic project, a book manuscript, or a professional report. You might be grappling with argumentation, structure, or style in your journal article, or tying up loose ends in your dissertation. For creative writers, challenges like character development, plot pacing, and thematic coherence can stall progress.

As an experienced editor, author, and educator with a PhD in English Literature, I offer a professional perspective and patient guidance to elevate all aspects of your writing. I’m committed to delivering thorough and reliable writing support to ensure my clients achieve their writing goals.

If you are ready to transform your writing, contact me to find out how I can help you.

Services

Genres I work with:
Creative and Professional Texts

General Fiction

Life Writing and Memoir

Creative Nonfiction

Reports

Website Content and Blog Posts

Academic Texts

Theses and Dissertations

Journal Articles

Book Manuscripts and Proposals

Creative and Professional Texts

Copy Editing

  • A comprehensive review of your document to address grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
  • Enhances readability and coherence.
  • Light feedback on pacing and stylistic elements.

Price: $0.025–0.04 per word

Developmental Editing

  • A comprehensive review of stylistic, narrative, and structural elements.
  • Detailed in-text feedback on character development and themes.
  • A constructive editorial letter to help you implement revisions.

Price: $0.03–0.05 per word

Manuscript Critique

  • Constructive feedback (35 pages) on the overall reading experience.
  • Focuses on writing style, plot, character development, and structure.
  • Highlights confusing or unclear sections and suggests improvements.

Price: from $600.00

Academic Texts

Copy Editing

  • A comprehensive review of your document to address language and academic tone.
  • Selected developmental comments on argument clarity, flow, and consistency.
  • Add-ons: fact-checking and citation style consistency.

Price: $0.03–0.05 per word

Developmental Editing

  • A comprehensive evaluation of your argument structure, coherence, and clarity.
  • Feedback on academic style, rigour, and overall readability.
  • Constructive suggestions for strengthening your work.

Price: $0.04–0.06 per word

Writing Consultation

  • An individual consultation to work on your writing and to outline a way forward.
  • A follow-up email with key takeaways and tips.

(This service requires you to share the document and an overview of your concerns with me beforehand).

Price: $50.00 per hour (minimum of 3 hours)

Frequently Asked Questions

Which service do I need?

If you contact me, I’ll be happy to help you identify the correct service level based on your concerns and a writing sample.

How does the process work?

Step 1: We will agree on a service level and a timeframe. When we sign the service agreement, a 50% non-refundable deposit is required to start the project.

Step 2: You will send me the most recent version of your work as a Microsoft Word document. All corrections will be made using Track Changes and comments. During the process, I will send you a reasonable number of updates and a sample for you to review.

Step 3: I will notify you when the work is complete. Once the outstanding amount has been paid, you will receive the full document. I’ll be happy to address your questions and make minor additional revisions. Extensive revisions will require additional payment.

How much will it cost?

The cost depends on the word count, the service category, and complexity. Please review the per-word rates for an estimate and feel free to contact me for an exact price.

Can I receive an editing sample?

For book-length manuscripts, I provide a free editing sample of 1000 words. Editing samples for short projects are handled on a case-by-case basis.

What are your qualifications and your experience?

Please refer to the About section of this website.

Do you provide academic ghostwriting services?

No. I do not create original content on your behalf.

Meet the writer / owner

Hello, I’m Anne.

After receiving a BA in English and History from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (Germany) in 2011, my postgraduate education took me to Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. There, I completed a BA Hons before graduating with an MA by dissertation in English Literature in 2014. I earned my PhD in English Literature in 2020, with a focus on trauma in women’s writing from the global South. Both my MA and PhD projects received awards for academic excellence.

During my postgraduate studies, I was a lecturer for literature, academic writing, and German language classes at Nelson Mandela University. My research interests, which include life writing, trauma, and memory studies, culminated in the publication of my book, Women Writing Trauma in the Global South. The book is part of the series ‘Routledge Studies in Comparative Literature’ by Taylor & Francis and explores reparative articulation and empathic witnessing through various literary forms. It develops new ideas for an inclusive conceptual expansion of trauma from the global peripheries and contributes to the ongoing debate on marginalised suffering. Additionally, I have contributed to scholarly discourse by publishing in Alif: Journal of Comparative Poetics.

Beyond academia and teaching, I have applied my language and editing skills in various professional contexts. This includes translation and live interpretation in legal settings, as well as project coordination of international academic programmes in educational research management.

I’m currently a managing editor for an academic translation and editing company where I oversee projects and review editors’ work.

As a freelance editor, I have successfully worked with postgraduate students, academics, NGOs, and authors of fiction, nonfiction, and memoir. I have also served as a peer reviewer for Taylor & Francis. Guided by my multifaceted experience as an educator, author, and editor, I approach each project with a comprehensive understanding of the writing process.

This perspective ensures a collaborative relationship where clients not only receive refined manuscripts but also gain insights into their writing development. Through detailed feedback and transparent communication, I create a supportive environment where clients feel confident to refine their writing.

Anne Pabel, PhD

Qualifications and Awards

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Doctor of Literature, Nelson Mandela University (South Africa)

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MA by dissertation in English Literature, Nelson Mandela University (South Africa)

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Rupert Gesinstigting Award 2014 — Best Doctoral Student (Social Sciences & Humanities)

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Nelson Mandela University Council Award for Best Master's by Research Graduate 2014 (Social Sciences & Humanities)

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BA Hons in English Literature, Nelson Mandela University (South Africa)

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BA English and History, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (Germany)

Publications

Pabel, Annemarie. Women Writing Trauma in the Global South. Routledge Studies in Comparative Literature. Taylor & Francis, 2022.

(Co-authored publication) “Developing Best Practices in Educational Research and Management at East and South African Universities.” Oldenburg University, 2018.

Pabel, Annemarie. “‘I Want the Diary to Be My Friend’: The Imagined Friend in Anne Frank’s Diary.” Alif: Journal of Comparative Poetics, no. 36, 2016, pp. 140–57. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/26494277. 

Testimonials

Jeannie Beach (Arizona, USA)

I was lucky enough to come across Anne’s name in a writing group I am in. Being a first-time author, I was stressed about finding a legitimate and competent editor. Anne answered all of my questions and concerns upfront, and I could tell we would be a good fit. She was professional, yet friendly, and knows her stuff. She delivered on time, actually early, and I was very pleased with the results. She made my words flow so much better and not sound so amateur. I will definitely use her for my next book and highly recommend her.

— Author of 'The Lucidious Delusion'

Angela Leslee (Hawai’i, USA)

I highly recommend working with Anne. From the beginning I felt understood, encouraged, and supported. It felt like a team effort. She is a consummate professional. She created and met all her own deadlines, and she communicated meticulously. Anne listened to what I wanted and inspired me with her clear, honest feedback. And something that was very important to me: Anne was able to edit my book without editing out my voice. With her talented guidance, the final copy feels polished and something I can feel proud of. The quality of Anne’s work far surpassed my expectations. I feel honored and grateful to have had Anne on my team.

— Author of 'Lucky to Live Hawai'i'

Jessica Warrick (San Diego, USA)

Working with Anne has been far greater than I ever imagined working with an editor would be. She has been thorough from the beginning, explaining how the process would work and what it would look like. All throughout our time in working together, she has been sure to keep me in the loop to make sure I not only understood, but also agreed with the way she was tracking her suggested revisions and changes. This memoir is deeply personal, so heading into this experience I was admittedly worried my words may get lost in translation, but that’s not even remotely the case. My story is still my own, which I love, but it is enhanced in so many wonderful ways that I never would have come up with on my own, and I love that even more. I cannot praise nor recommend her highly enough.

— Author of 'Despite the Odds'

Prof. Paul Webb (Port Elizabeth, South Africa)

Anne did an excellent and reliable job editing my student’s thesis. Her thorough revisions really improved the grammar and style of the writing. I would definitely recommend her services.

— Nelson Mandela University

Dr. Barbara Bolognani

I was looking for a professional proofreader who could fix not only typing mistakes, but also improve the fluency of my sentences. Even though the subject of my paper was not familiar to Anne, she went through it in great detail.

— Paris, France

Rida Cassim

Having Anne doing the editing and proofreading for my dissertation was a pleasure and gave me confidence when submitting my dissertation. Suggestions and comments made by Anne relating to my work were well thought through and tactfully made, and the work put into proofreading my dissertation was evident in the final draft, which was word-perfect. Her service is of high quality and represents value for money. Thank you, Anne.

— Cape Town, South Africa

Blogs

Typical writing mistakes and how to avoid them

Typical writing mistakes and how to avoid them

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Tips for working with an editor

Tips for working with an editor

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